the landing, taper in hand, while Chauvelin descended the narrow,
winding stairs.

There was a light in the concierge's lodge. No doubt the woman had
struck it when the nocturnal visitor had first demanded admittance. His
name and tricolour scarf of office had ensured him the full measure of
her attention, and now she was evidently sitting up waiting to let him
out.

St. Just, satisfied that Chauvelin had finally gone, now turned back to
his own rooms.

CHAPTER XL. GOD HELP US ALL

He carefully locked the outer door. Then he lit the lamp, for the candle
gave but a flickering light, and he had some important work to do.

Firstly, he picked up the charred fragment of the letter, and smoothed
it out carefully and reverently as he would a relic. Tears had gathered
in his eyes, but he was not ashamed of them, for no one saw them; but
they eased his heart, and helped to strengthen his resolve. It was a
mere fragment that had been spared by the flame, but Armand knew every
word of the letter by heart.

He had pen, ink and paper ready to his band, and from memory wrote out
a copy of it. To this he added a covering letter from himself to
Marguerite:

This--which I had from Percy through the hands of Chauvelin--I neither
question nor understand.... He wrote the letter, and I have no thought
but to obey. In his previous letter to me he enjoined me, if ever he
wrote to me again, to obey him implicitly, and to communicate with you.
To both these commands do I submit with a glad heart. But of this must I
give you warning, little mother--Chauvelin desires you also to accompany
us to-morrow.... Percy does not know this yet, else he would never
start. But those fiends fear that his readiness is a blind... and that
he has some plan in his head for his own escape and the continued safety
of the Dauphin.... This plan they hope to frustrate through holding you
and me as hostages for his good faith. God only knows how gladly I would
give my life for my chief... but your life, dear little mother... is
sacred above all.... I think that I do right in warning you. God help us
all.

Having written the letter, he sealed it, together with the copy of
Percy's letter which he had made. Then he took up the candle and went
downstairs.

There was no longer any light in the concierge's lodge, and Armand had
some difficulty in making himself heard. At last the woman came to the
door. She was tired and cross after two interruptions